(Newser)
–
France has had a 35-hour workweek in effect for 15 years now, and it's time to let the controversial law fade away, writes Leonid Bershidsky at Bloomberg. In fact, this is already happening to some extent: Successive governments have weakened the law by providing loopholes and temporary exceptions, and current President Francois Hollande—though he's a socialist—is no different. "It doesn't mean the experiment failed, but it has probably outlived its usefulness," writes Bershidsky. The "nature of work is changing," he adds, and the law is starting to feel a little outdated.

"It's more democratic and less disruptive to leave the length of the workweek to employers and labor unions to agree, than to dictate it by law," writes Bershidsky. Besides, though the 35-hour law has generated much attention around the world, only about a third of France's workers now actually abide by it, and long-term benefits have been negligible. It's probably political suicide for the government to kill the law outright, but it has clearly "failed to establish a universal social norm as strong as the five-day, 40-hour week," writes Bershidsky. Let it "erode gradually." Click for the full post.

Many professional positions in NYC are 35 hour work weeks, and have been for decades.

FarmerM

Aug 13, 2015 11:19 PM CDT

The French have been doing it their way since they lost the lead economy in Europe title to the UK, then a century later to even archer enemy Germany. They have been fun to watch.

GodSAveAmerica

Aug 13, 2015 6:47 PM CDT

Another "expert" making comments how another country should be run. The MAIN reason a "work week" was put into law was because of all the horrid abuses committed by "employers" against the employee's at te turn of this century. Non union jobs employers will go rampant and we know they will. How about a seven day work week at 12 hours per day for a private job? No over time and allot more will happen.. Same would more likley happen with "union" jobs as well... Strikes all the time and complete union busting will happen. Yep leave it up to the Employer and Unions; nothing would get done.